Butter spreader and support for ears of cooked corn

ABSTRACT

A tube open at one end for receiving compacted butter and a manually actuatable plunger reciprocable within the tube for dispensing butter from said one end directly onto an ear of cooked corn upon moving the plunger toward said one end when said open end is adjacent to the ear and is moved longitudinally of the latter, said tube including finger-engageable means for holding the tube and for actuating the plunger, and for supporting the tube on its side when not in use, the plunger being a unit readily separable from a unitary tube leaving a through, substantially uniform, diameter open-ended bore to facilitate cleaning. A holder is provided for supporting the ear to be buttered on, but spaced above, a horizontal surface and for rotating the ear when so supported, and for manually holding the ear after buttering, for eating the corn.

United States Patent Daniluke 1 51 June 13, 1972 3,396,697 8/1968 Bieser..118/76 Primary Examiner-Morris Kaplan Attorney-Boyken, Mohler, Foster& Schwab [5 7] ABSTRACT A tube open at one end for receiving compactedbutter and a manually actuatable plunger reciprocable within the tubefor dispensing butter from said one end directly onto an ear of cookedcom upon moving the plunger toward said one end when said open end isadjacent to the ear and is moved longitudinally of the latter, said tubeincluding finger-engageable means for holding the tube and for actuatingthe plunger, and for supporting the tube on its side when not in use.the plunger being a unit readily separable from a unitary tube leaving athrough, substantially uniform, diameter open-ended bore to facilitatecleaning. A holder is provided for supporting the ear to be buttered on,but spaced above, a horizontal surface and for rotating the ear when sosupported, and for manually holding the ear after buttering, for eatingthe corn.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJum 1912 3.669.063

INVENTOR.

MANUEL DANILUKE ygv Mm Maw ATTORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONHeretofore, the buttering of cooked corn on the cob" has been relativelymessy, wasteful of butter, awkward, and susceptible to the occurrence ofaccidents. Ordinarily a knife has been used to carry a limited amount ofbutter to the ear and after subsequent spreading after the knife hasbeen heated results many times in the butter sliding off the knifebefore it reaches the ear.

Holders secured in the ends of the ears have. been used to support thehot ears during buttering, one end support being manually held by thefingers of one hand while the other hand is used for buttering, with theresult that the ear, being supported at only one end frequently becomesloosened from the support and the ear falls.

SUMMARY One of the objects of the present invention is the provision ofa manually supported and manually actuatable holder and dispenser forsufficient butter to supply adequate butter for an ear of corn, and thedischarge of the butter being manually controlled so as to dispense moreor less butter onto the ear of corn, according to the desires of theeater.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a holder forsupporting an ear of corn from both ends on a rigid surface, spacedabove the latter, with means for rotating the supported ear with onehand, and a butter holder and dispenser adapted to be actuated by theother hand while the ear is 50 supported, which holder for the car maythen be manually lifted and manipulated while the corn is being eaten.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a manuallysupported and manually actuatable holder and dispenser for sufficientbutter for an ear of corn, and which holder is economical to make andeasy to load and to use by any person, and is free from threads, andre-entrant portions where butter may accumulate and be difiicult toremove.

An additional object is the provision of a butter holder and dispenserfor applying butter to a hot ear of corn, which dispenser is cylindricaland in two readily separable parts for cleaning, there being an innerplunger and an outer tube within which the plunger is reciprocable andfrom which it is readily-removable leaving the outer cylinder anopen-ended tube. This tube includes finger-engageable means forengagement by the finger of a hand while the thumb may actuate theplunger to dispense the butter, and which means also functions tosupport the holder and dispenser on its side to prevent rolling.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description anddrawings.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view, partly incross section, of the butter dispenser in collapsed position, theplunger being shown in full line.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a reduced size side-elevational view of the butter dispenserof FIG. 1 in position over an upended section of a standard cube ofbutter preparatory to loading the dispenser, the plunger being shown inbroken lines when the dispenser is filled.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the dispenser shown in FIG. 3, the butterbeing shown in broken lines.

FIG. 5 is a reduced side-elevational view showing an ear of cornsupported between a pair of holders that, in turn, are supported on ahorizontal rigid surface for turning the holder at one end of the ear byturning one of the corn impaling members by the fingers of one handwhile the butter dispenser is held and manipulated by the fingers of theother hand.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the butter dispenser of FIG. 5 in positionover a portion of the ear of corn, and in broken lines several of thefingers of the left hand are shown in a position for supporting andmanipulating the butter dispenser, and several fingers of the right handare indicated in a position for rotating the ear.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the holder only for an ear of corn.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE The butter dispenser and holder comprisesan open-ended cylinder generally designated 1 (FIG. 1) of uniform insidediameter, except that the end portion 2 may be very slightly less for apurpose later described. The diameter of the cylinder may beapproximately 1% inches in diameter, or substantially equal to the widthof one side of 'a conventional quarter pound, elongated cube of butter(FIG. 2 The end portion 2 is the inner end and the opposite end is theouter or discharge and filling end. This cylinder forms the main body ofthe butter holder and dispenser.

Radially outwardly projecting flanges 3, 4 (FIGS. 1, 2) are respectivelyadjacent to, but spaced from, the opposite ends of the cylinder or body1, and are rigid with the cylinder. Said flanges are formed with atleast one of their edges straight and in axial alignment so the cylindermay be positioned on its side on a flat supporting surface with saidstraight edges on said surface, to support the cylinder against rolling.The outer linear contour of the flanges is preferably square, with thecorners removed (FIG. 2), thus providing any one of four sides forsupporting it on such surface.

Supported within cylinder 1 for reciprocation axially of the cylinder,is a cylindrical plunger designated 5 and rod 6 rigid with the plungergenerally thereof, projects from the plunger toward the open outer endof the cylinder 1, and .is rigid with a circular thumb-engageable head7. Head 7 is slightly greater in diameter than the cylinder 1 so as toengage the outer end edge of the cylinder when the plunger 5substantially reaches the inner end edges of the cylinder (FIG. 3).Preferably the end surface 8 of the plunger that faces toward the outeropen end of the cylinder is slightly concave and the edges of said endsurface to not quite reach the inner end edges of the cylinder when thehead 7 engages the outer end edges.

The axial thickness of the plunger 5 is sufficient to support the rod 6and head 7 substantially in axial alignment with the cylinder 1 at alltimes, although there may be a slight play of the plunger in thecylinder to insure freedom of axial movement between them, and toprovide for withdrawal of the plunger from the inner end, as will beexplained.

The ends of plunger rod 6 are divergently curved outwardly toward thehead 7 and plunger 5, respectively, or at 9 and 10, so there are nosharp or even relatively sharp corners where any butter or impuritiescan collect and be held when the plunger is cleaned.

The diameter of the cylinder 1 at its outer end edge is restricted onlyenough to preclude accidental withdrawal of the plunger, but the plungermay be withdrawn from the outer end of the cylinder upon applying anextra axial pull on the head 7 outwardly of the cylinder, and re-entryof the plunger into the cylinder through the outer open end of thelatter is readily accomplished by pushing the plunger past therestricted outer end of the cylinder.

In the filling operation, a cube of butter 11 may be cut to the desiredlength, and the cut portion 11 (FIG. 3) may be supported upright on ahorizontal surface 11'. The cylinder 1 may be then positioned verticallyover the half cube with its outer end centered over the portion 11 afterwhich the cylinder is pushed downwardly and the cube half willprogressively enter the holder pushing the plunger 5 and the rod 6 andhead 7 upwardly to the broken line position 13 (FIG. 3) until thecylinder is filled.

The small amount of butter that was at the corners of the half cube lloutwardly of the cylinder 1 and below the flange 4 and can be readilyremoved for future use. The flange 4 thus functions as a deflector forthis butter.

The corn holder itself comprises a pair of identical separate plates 12(FIGS. 5 7), which may be of substantially the outline of an equilateraltriangle to provide a straight edge adapted to be supported on ahorizontal rigid support, and an apex opposite to said straight edge.The apexial portion of each plate is formed with an opening 13 (FIG. 7)through which a horizontally elongated element generally designated 14rotatably extends so that a relatively long handle portion 15 projectsfrom one side of the plate and a corn impaling blade 16 projects fromthe opposite side.

A pair of circular discs 17 are rigid on said element 18 at oppositesides of each plate 17 for supporting the elements 18 at right angles tothe plates 17. The disc on the side having blade 16 will be abutted byan end of the ear of com 18, while the disc on the handle side willfunction to protect the fingers 19 of a hand, grasping the handle,should they accidentally engage the disc.

When the ear of com 18 is impaled at its ends on blades 16, the plates17 will rotatably support the ear horizontally on, but spaced above, arigid surface 20 (FIG. 5). The operator may then grasp one of thehandles 15 FIG. 6) by the fingers 19 of one hand and hold butterdispenser by the other hand with the thumb 21 over the head 7 and theportion of the cylinder below the flange 3 between any two of the otherfingers 22 of the same hand. By applying pressure against head 7 bythumb 21, while fingers 22 engage the underside of flange 3 and the handsupports the cylinder over the ear of com 18 (FIG. 5) the butter will bedispensed onto the outer surface of the ear and at the same time theother hand may hold the handle 15 stationary to prevent rotation of theear, or may rotate the ear.

After the ear is buttered, both handles of the support may be graspedand the ear carried to the mouth for eating the corn.

The fingers that hold the butter dispenser and that grasp a handle 15are indicated in broken lines in FIG. 6, it being understood in anyevent the result accomplished is the supporting of the ear of corn forrotation, but in a stationary location, and rotating it or holding itagainst rotation by the fingers of one hand, while the substantiallyenclosed and supported supply of butter is manually displaced onto theupper side of the ear of corn under full control of the finger on theother hand of the operator.

The spreader itself may also be used for spreading butter or shorteningof other similar texture on to any heated surfaces such as hot cakes,pans, etc., and when not in use and supported upright on a horizontalplanar surface, such as on a plate in a refrigerator, the contents willbe effectively enclosed for storage until required. The lower coplanaredge provides a stable support.

I claim:

1. A butter spreader and dispenser for butter and the tube comprising:

a. an elongated tube for holding a supply of butter therein,

b. a plunger supported within said tube for reciprocation longitudinallyof the latter from one end to the opposite end,

c. a projection rigid with said plunger projecting axially outwardly ofsaid opposite end of said tube, said projection including athumb-engageable head thereon for engagement by the thumb of a handholding said tube for moving said plunger from said opposite endsubstantially to said open end upon application of pressure by saidthumb on said head in a direction toward said opposite end fordischarging butter within said tube from said opposite end,

d. said tube terminating at said open end in a free, axially outwardlyfacing edge in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said tube, and theinside diameter of said tube through said open end upon positioning saidouter end on a body of butter and pressing the tube axially thereofagainst said body to force the tube into said body,

e. means on said tube at said opposite end engageable by said plungerwhen at said opposite end for resisting free movement of said plungerout of said open end, and finger-engageable means projecting axiallyoutwardly of said body for holding said tube against axial movement in aposition with said open end facing said ear and adjacent thereto, whensaid thumb-engaging means on said plunger is engaged by the thumb ofsuch hand for moving said plunger to dispense butter within said tubefrom said open end and onto the outer surface of said ear.

. In a device as defined in claim 1;

. said tube being cylindrical in cross-sectional contour, and

. said finger-engageable means including a flange rigid with said tubespaced from said open end and the portion of said tube adjacent saidflange and at the side nearest to said open end being of an outsidediameter to be straddled between the middle and forefinger of the handwith said fingers engaging the axially facing side of said flange.

3. In a device as defined in claim 2;

. said means on said tube for resisting withdrawal of said plunger fromsaid opposite end being a portion of said tube of slightly restricteddiameter providing frictional resistance against accidental withdrawalwhile permitting withdrawal upon application of a substantialpredetermined force and j. said thumb-engageable head being of a greaterdiameter than said cylinder at said opposite end thereof and engageablewith the terminal end edges of said tube at said opposite end when saidplunger is in a position within said tube approximately at said openend.

4. In a device as defined in claim 3;

g. said tube being cylindrical in cross-sectional contour,

h. said finger-engageable means having a radially outwardly facingnon-arcuate surface for supporting said tube on its side againstrolling.

5. In a device as defined in claim 4;

i. a second flange on said tube projecting radially outwardly therefromspaced intermediate said open end of said tube and said first-mentionedflange,

j. the diameter of said tube between said second flange and said openend being approximately one and one-half inches in diameter and saidsecond flange being approximately one-half inch from said open end toprovide a deflector for butter of said body that is outside thedimensions of said open end when said tube is pressed into said body forfilling said tube.

6. In combination with the device of claim 1;

k. a pair of supports adapted to be removably supported in spaced,horizontally-opposed, upwardly extending positions on a stationaryhorizontal base,

. a pair of horizontally elongated spindles respectively extendingthrough and rotatably supported in the upper portion of each supportequally spaced above its lower end, each spindle having afinger-engageable handle projecting from one side of the support throughwhich it extends and an ear impaling element projecting horizontallyfrom the other side for horizontal insertion into the end of ahorizontally disposed ear of corn, whereby, for a buttering purpose,said ear will be supported on and between said spindles and will berotated about its longitudinal axis when said spindles are in axialalignment with said elements extending into opposite ends of such earand one of said handles is manually rotated while said supports are onsuch base supporting the latter above the base.

1. A butter spreader and dispenser for butter and the tube comprising:a. an elongated tube for holding a supply of butter therein, b. aplunger supported within said tube for reciprocation longitudinally ofthe latter from one end to the opposite end, c. a projection rigid withsaid plunger projecting axially outwardly of said opposite end of saidtube, said projection including a thumb-engageable head thereon forengagement by the thumb of a hand holding said tube for moving saidplunger from said opposite end substantially to said open end uponapplication of pressure by said thumb on said head in a direction towardsaid opposite end for discharging butter within said tube from saidopposite end, d. said tube terminating at said open end in a free,axially outwardly facing edge in a plane perpendicular to the axis ofsaid tube, and the inside diameter of said tube through said open endupon positioning said outer end on a body of butter and pressing thetube axially thereof against said body to force the tube into said body,e. means on said tube at said opposite end engageable by said plungerwhen at said opposite end for resisting free movement of said plungerout of said open end, and f. finger-engageable means projecting axiallyoutwardly of said body for holding said tube against axial movement in aposition with said open end facing said ear and adjacent thereto, whensaid thumb-engaging means on said plunger is engaged by the thumb ofsuch hand for moving said plunger to dispense butter within said tubefrom said open end and onto the outer surface of said ear.
 2. In adevice as defined in claim 1; g. said tube being cylindrical incross-sectional contour, and h. said finger-engageable means including aflange rigid with said tube spaced from said open end and the portion ofsaid tube adjacent said flange and at the side nearest to said open endbeing of an outside diameter to be straddled between the middle andforefinger of the hand with said fingers engaging the axially facingside of said flange.
 3. In a device as defined in claim 2; i. said meanson said tube for resisting withdrawal of said plunger from said oppositeend being a portion of said tube of slightly restricted diameterproviding frictional resistance against accidental withdrawal whilepermitting withdrawal upon application of a substantial predeterminedforce and j. said thumb-engageable head being of a greater diameter thansaid cylinder at said opposite end thereof and engageable with theterminal end edges of said tube at said opposite end when said plungeris in a position within said tube approximately at said open end.
 4. Ina device as defined in claim 3; g. said tube being cylindrical incross-sectional contour, h. said finger-engageable means having aradially outwardly facing non-arcuate surface for supporting said tubeon its side against rolling.
 5. In a device as defined in claim 4; i. asecond flange on said tube projecting radially outwardly therefromspaced intermediate said open end of said tube and said first-mentionedflange, j. the diameter of said tube between said second flange and saidopen end being approximately one and one-half inches in diameter andsaid second flange being approximately one-half inch from said open endto provide a deflector for butter of said body that is outside thedimensions of said open end when said tube is pressed into said body forfilling said tube.
 6. In combination with the device of claim 1; k. apair of supports adapted to be removably supported in spaced,horizontally-opposed, upwardly extending positions on a stationaryhorizontal base, l. a pair of horizontally elongated spindlesrespectively extending through and rotatably supported in the upperportion of each support equally spaced above its lower end, each spindlehaving a finger-engageable handle projecting from one side of thesupport through which it extends and an ear impaling element projectinghorizontally from the other side for horizontal insertion into the endof a horizontally disposed ear of corn, whereby, for a butteringpurpose, said ear will be supported on and between said spindles andwill be rotated about its longitudinal axis when said spindles are inaxial alignment with said elements extending into opposite ends of suchear and one of said handles is manually rotated while said supports areon such base supporting the latter above the base.